Ecological globalization

(p. 87) 6. The ecological dimension of globalization

March 18, 2015 – 11:15 am

Although we have examined the economic, political, and cultural aspects of globalization separately, it is important to emphasize that each of these dimensions impacts on and has consequences for the other domains. Nowhere is this more clearly demonstrated than in the ecological dimensions of globalization. In recent years, global environmental issues such as global climate change and transboundary pollution have received enormous attention from research institutes, the media, politicians, and economists. Indeed, the ecological effects of globalization are increasingly recognized as the most significant and potentially life threatening for the world as we have inherited it from our ancestors. The worldwide impact of natural and man-made disasters such as the horrifying nuclear plant accidents at Chernobyl, Ukraine (1986), and Fukushima, Japan (2011), clearly shows that the formidable ecological problems of our time can only be tackled by a global alliance of states and civil society actors.

In addition to economic and political factors, cultural values greatly influence how people view their natural environment. For example, cultures steeped in Taoist, Buddhist, and various animist religions tend to emphasize the interdependence of all living beings—a perspective that calls for a delicate balance between human wants and ecological needs. Judeo-Christian humanism, on the other hand, contains deeply dualistic values (p. 88) that put humans in control of nature. In Western modernity, the environment has thus come to be considered as a ‘resource’ to be used instrumentally to fulfil human needs and wants. The most extreme manifestation of this ‘anthropocentric’ paradigm is reflected in the dominant values and beliefs of consumerism. As pointed out previously, the capitalist culture industry seeks to convince its global audience that the meaning and chief value of life can be found in the limitless accumulation of material goods.

Source: www.veryshortintroductions.com

Popular Q&A

42. What are the ecological implications of global warming? | Yahoo Answers

There is no man-made global warming, but if you want to know about the ecological effects of increased CO2, well increased plant growth, increased biomass, increased food crops, and receding deserts.

Anarcho-primitivism is an anarchist critique of the origins and progress of civilization. According to anarcho-primitivism, the shift from hunter-gatherer to agricultural subsistence gave rise to social stratification, coercion, and alienation. Anarcho-primitivists advocate a return to non-"civilized" ways of life through deindustrialisation...